# Mountain Biking Jacksonville Forest Park — Riding Guide | Cycle Analysis

> A local's guide to mountain biking Jacksonville Forest Park in Jacksonville, Oregon: getting there from downtown, parking, which trails allow bikes, rules, a 12.6-mile loop from Cycle Analysis on Ride with GPS, and how it connects to John's Peak.

URL: https://cycleanalysis.net/riding/jacksonville-forest-park  
Last modified: 2026-09-29

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![A mountain biker descends narrow singletrack through madrone and fir forest in Jacksonville Forest Park.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/2460b45d0e741279/1024.jpeg)

### Getting there, and what to expect.

**Where it is.** Take Highway 238 west out of town and turn right on
Jacksonville Reservoir Road; the park entrance is a quarter mile up. From the
shop you can ride there on the Sarah Zigler Trail to the 238 crossing at
Reservoir Road.

**Parking.** There are eight parking areas along the road, with printed trail
maps at the P-1, P-1A and P-2 kiosks and a pit toilet. The trail map is also
free in the Avenza Maps app.

**The riding.** The City counts over 30 miles of multi-use trail on about
1,080 acres, from 1,920 feet at the entrance to 3,455 feet at the top of
Jackson Ridge. Most of it is narrow singletrack on steep, forested slopes,
tied together by short sections of old road. A lot of it climbs, and some of
the descents are steep and rocky.

**Who looks after it.** It's a City of Jacksonville park, with trail work by
the Jacksonville Woodlands Association and Rogue Valley Mountain Bike
Association volunteers.

![A bike leaning on a madrone tree under a trail sign in Jacksonville Forest Park.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/27e764c0aa24ebf0/1024.jpeg)

### A 12.6-mile loop from the shop.

About 2,100 feet of climbing, almost all of it on dirt. It leaves from our
front door on the Sarah Zigler Trail, climbs into the park on the Jackson
Creek bike trail and Sofie's, tops out on Jackson Ridge, and comes back down
Atsahu, Twin Peaks, Owl Hoot, Boulder and Ol' Miners. That's close to what the
Wednesday ride does.

### Photos from our rides.

From the Cycle Analysis team blog.

![A rider on a bench in a trail shelter on Twin Peaks Trail, looking over the Rogue Valley.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/4c587298dce8766a/640.jpeg)

![A group of mountain bikers stopped on a narrow singletrack in green forest.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/3d44acd3379f8f5d/1024.jpeg)

![Two mountain bikers on a manzanita-lined singletrack at dusk.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/6b1dc5a6ba26b76e/640.jpeg)

![A steep rocky descent drops to a dirt road, with forested ridges behind.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/4b0fc594a973bd42/1024.jpeg)

![Three mountain bikers riding together on a dirt trail.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/e996c597b680d596/1024.jpeg)

![A mountain biker descends narrow singletrack through madrone and fir forest.](https://cycleanalysis.net/storage/variants/2460b45d0e741279/1024.jpeg)

### Which trails you can ride.

**Bike-only trails:** Granite, Jackson Creek Bike, Slip-N-Slide and Twister.
Hikers are asked to use the parallel trails.

**Multi-use trails (bikes welcome):** Arrowhead Pass, Atsahu, Boulder, Canyon
Vista, Claimjumper, Halls of Manzanita, Jackson Ridge, Legburner, Naversen
Family, Norling, Ol' Miners, Owl Hoot, Ponderosa Snag, Rail, Ridgeview,
Sofie's, Steep Canyon Rangers and Twin Peaks.

**Hiking only, no bikes:** Cantrall Creek, Canyon Falls, Grotto, Jackson Creek
Nature, Knobcone Pine, Madrone Grove, Pipsissewa, Rattlesnake Gulch, Shade
Creek and Siskiyou.

**Park rules.** 10 mph on all roads and trails. The park is day use only and
closes at dusk. No motor vehicles off the road, no hunting, fires, smoking,
alcohol or camping. Dogs can be off leash but must be under control.

These lists come from the City's trail map, and trails change. Check the
kiosk map or the Avenza app before you ride, and call the City at
[(541) 899-1231](tel:+15418991231) with questions, including e-bike rules.

**Keep climbing: John's Peak.** Many trails run from the top of the park onto
John's Peak, Motorcycle Riders Association land that's open to bikes. Past the
park boundary the City's rules give way to the MRA's, and you'll share the
trails with motorcycles. See our [John's Peak guide](https://cycleanalysis.net/riding/johns-peak) for
how it connects, and the one area that's closed.

### Ride reports from Forest Park.

- [Wildcat Fever](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/wildcat-fever) — Aaron Mock, April 2016
- [Group It Up](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/group-it-up) — Aaron Mock, May 2016
- [Better Late Than Never](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/better-late-than-never) — Aaron Mock, June 2016
- [Who Wants To Climb?](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/who-wants-to-climb) — Aaron Mock, July 2016
- [Let's Try This Again](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/lets-try-this-again) — Aaron Mock, August 2016
- [Get Lost](https://cycleanalysis.net/blog/get-lost) — Aaron Mock, September 2016

### Stop by the shop on the way.

We're at 110 N 5th St., on the way to the park. Tubes, a quick adjustment, or
a full tune-up: call [(541) 899-9190](tel:+15418999190) or just come in. Open
Tuesday through Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 4.
